Proper Braking

[Kodie]

Ok, I couldnt help but notice one of the drivers (who's name I wont mention) applied the parking brake before being fully stopped. This is not something that you should do regularly. It wears excessively on the brake system, it might cause problems down the road(no pun intended), and it throws the students around quite a bit. The proper thing to do would be to stop fully, then apply the parking brake.

The reason I suggest applying the parking brake at all stops is a simple one. If you are hit from behind, the chances of the bus moving are far less than if you are only holding the brake pedal with your foot.



(obviously it didnt really happen since this is only text based. I noticed that my sub driver did it today!)

[C2]

down here in va we dont apply the parking brake unless we are doing just that, parking for the day..... our last run in with a car was last year for us, with it being the drivers fault for...get this... skidding to a stop in my neighborhood, then proceeding to back up a hill full throttle, and at the crest of the hill, hitting an on coming car....not a pretty sight...driver of the car, my neighbor was fine...

[ThomasHDX]

Sorry about this its kind of on and off topic but here were I am we always apply the parking brake and every stop and during drop off and pick up as well.

[Kodie]

I was told by our real TD that this is safer in the event of an accident. He gave me an example also. He said that in the early 90's a bus was rear ended and the driver didnt have the brake applied.. the bus was hit and was thrown forward and hit the kid. Then 2 years ago 22 was rear ended, with the brake applied, and the bus didnt move more than 3 inches.

[08 Thomas EF]

Depends who you're concerned about. With the break on, yeah, the bus wouldn't move and people outside of it would be relatively safe, but what about the people inside the bus? If the wheels don't move, the bus gets damaged more and the passengers get more of an initial jolt. If the bus moves a bit, there isn't as much of an initial jolt, plus it might not be damaged as much.

[Bryce]

Here in MA,I ride on FS,my driver and all other drivers apply the parking brake whenever stopped(stop signs and red lights are the only exceptions that I know of).

[Kodie]

Hmm.. death or pain? Idk.. you choose lol. Whatever.. either way. Thats my suggestion to other drivers.

[LifestarFe]

Here (life and RP) policy is that drivers stop, pull the parking brake, then open the door. Technically the student is not supposed to stand up until the parking brake is applied and the door is opened, but nobody follows that policy. Bottom line: Stop, apply parking brake, and then open the door.